What Is Subject And Predicate In Grammar

The subject and predicate form the backbone of every complete sentence, acting as the fundamental elements that convey a thought or idea. Understanding their roles and how they interact is crucial for clear and effective communication, as well as for mastering the nuances of grammar.

What is the Subject?

The subject of a sentence is the noun, pronoun, or noun phrase that performs the action or is described by the verb. In simpler terms, it's who or what the sentence is about. Identifying the subject is the first step in understanding the sentence's meaning.

• Simple Subject: The main noun or pronoun that performs the action.
  • Example: The dog barked. (Dog is the simple subject)
• Complete Subject: Includes the simple subject and all its modifiers.
  • Example: The big, fluffy dog barked. (The big, fluffy dog is the complete subject)
• Compound Subject: Two or more subjects joined by a conjunction (and, or, nor) that share the same verb.
  • Example: John and Mary went to the store. (John and Mary are the compound subject)
• Implied Subject: In imperative sentences (commands or requests), the subject is usually "you," but it is implied rather than explicitly stated.
  • Example: (You) Close the door. (The subject "you" is implied)

What is the Predicate?

The predicate of a sentence contains the verb and everything that follows it, providing information about the subject. It tells us what the subject does or is. The predicate is the action part of the sentence.

• Simple Predicate: The main verb that expresses the action or state of being.
  • Example: The dog barked. (Barked is the simple predicate)
• Complete Predicate: Includes the simple predicate and all its modifiers, objects, and complements.
  • Example: The dog barked loudly at the mailman. (Barked loudly at the mailman is the complete predicate)
• Compound Predicate: Two or more verbs connected by a conjunction that share the same subject.
  • Example: John went to the store and bought milk. (Went to the store and bought milk is the compound predicate)

Identifying Subjects and Predicates: A Step-by-Step Guide

Finding the subject and predicate can seem daunting at first, but with a systematic approach, it becomes much easier.

1. Find the Verb: The verb is the heart of the predicate. Look for the word that expresses action or a state of being (is, are, was, were, etc.).
2. Ask "Who?" or "What?": Once you've identified the verb, ask yourself who or what is performing that action or being described. The answer is your subject.
3. Everything Else is the Predicate: Everything in the sentence that isn't the subject (or its modifiers) is part of the predicate.

Examples:

• The cat slept on the windowsill.
  • Verb: slept
  • Who slept? The cat
  • Subject: The cat
  • Predicate: slept on the windowsill
• My brother and I are going to the concert.
  • Verb: are going
  • Who are going? My brother and I
  • Subject: My brother and I
  • Predicate: are going to the concert
• She is a talented musician.
  • Verb: is
  • Who is? She
  • Subject: She
  • Predicate: is a talented musician

Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them

While the basic principles are straightforward, certain sentence structures can make identifying the subject and predicate more challenging. Here's how to tackle some common hurdles:

• Sentences Beginning with Prepositional Phrases: Prepositional phrases (e.g., in the garden, under the table, after the game) often come at the beginning of a sentence and can mislead you into thinking they contain the subject. Remember, the subject is never in a prepositional phrase.
  • Example: In the garden, the roses bloomed. (The subject is "roses," not "garden.")
• Sentences with "There" or "Here": When sentences begin with "there" or "here," these words are not the subject. They are expletives, serving only to introduce the sentence. The subject usually follows the verb.
  • Example: There is a cat on the roof. (The subject is "cat.")
  • Example: Here are the keys you were looking for. (The subject is "keys.")
• Questions: In interrogative sentences (questions), the verb often comes before the subject. To find the subject, rephrase the question as a statement.
  • Example: Did John go to the store? (Statement: John did go to the store. The subject is "John.")
  • Example: What is the answer? (Statement: The answer is what. The subject is "the answer.")
• Inverted Sentences: Inverted sentences have the verb before the subject for emphasis or stylistic effect. Rearrange the sentence to its normal order to identify the subject more easily.
  • Example: Over the hill rolled the tank. (Normal order: The tank rolled over the hill. The subject is "the tank.")

The Importance of Subject-Predicate Agreement

Once you've mastered identifying subjects and predicates, you can move on to understanding subject-verb agreement, a fundamental principle of grammatical correctness. Subject-verb agreement means that the verb in a sentence must agree in number (singular or plural) with its subject.

• Singular Subject: Takes a singular verb.
  • Example: The dog barks.
• Plural Subject: Takes a plural verb.
  • Example: The dogs bark.

Common Mistakes in Subject-Verb Agreement:

• Intervening Phrases: Phrases that come between the subject and the verb can sometimes obscure the correct agreement. Ignore these phrases when determining whether the subject is singular or plural.
  • Example: The box of chocolates is on the table. (The subject is "box," which is singular, so the verb should be "is.")
• Compound Subjects: Compound subjects joined by "and" usually take a plural verb.
  • Example: John and Mary are going to the party.
  • However, if the compound subject refers to a single entity or idea, it takes a singular verb.
    • Example: Macaroni and cheese is my favorite dish.
• Indefinite Pronouns: Indefinite pronouns (e.g., each, every, some, none, all) can be tricky. Some are always singular, some are always plural, and some can be either, depending on the context.
  • Singular: Each of the students has a book.
  • Plural: Several of the students are absent.
  • Can be either: Some of the cake is gone. (Singular) / Some of the cookies are missing. (Plural)
• Collective Nouns: Collective nouns (e.g., team, family, committee) can be either singular or plural, depending on whether they are acting as a unit or as individual members.
  • Acting as a unit: The team is playing well.
  • Acting as individuals: The team are arguing among themselves.

Expanding Your Knowledge: Beyond the Basics

Understanding subjects and predicates is just the beginning. Once you have a solid grasp of these concepts, you can delve deeper into the intricacies of sentence structure and grammar.

• Clauses: A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate. There are two main types of clauses:
  • Independent Clause: Can stand alone as a complete sentence.
    • Example: The dog barked.
  • Dependent Clause: Cannot stand alone as a complete sentence and relies on an independent clause to give it meaning.
    • Example: Because it was raining, the dog stayed inside.
• Phrases: A phrase is a group of related words that does not contain both a subject and a predicate. Phrases add detail and modify other parts of the sentence.
  • Example: Running quickly, the dog caught the ball. (Running quickly is a participial phrase.)
• Sentence Types: Sentences can be classified into four main types based on their structure:
  • Simple Sentence: Contains one independent clause.
    • Example: The cat slept.
  • Compound Sentence: Contains two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet) or a semicolon.
    • Example: The cat slept, and the dog played.
  • Complex Sentence: Contains one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.
    • Example: Because it was tired, the cat slept.
  • Compound-Complex Sentence: Contains two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.
    • Example: Because it was tired, the cat slept, and the dog played.

Practical Applications of Understanding Subjects and Predicates

The ability to identify subjects and predicates isn't just an academic exercise. It has practical applications in various aspects of communication and writing.

• Improved Writing Clarity: By understanding how subjects and predicates work together, you can construct clearer and more concise sentences. This leads to more effective communication, whether you're writing an email, a report, or a novel.
• Enhanced Reading Comprehension: Recognizing the subject and predicate helps you to quickly grasp the main idea of a sentence and understand the relationships between different parts of the text.
• Effective Editing and Proofreading: A strong understanding of grammar allows you to identify and correct errors in your writing, such as subject-verb agreement issues, misplaced modifiers, and sentence fragments.
• Stronger Communication Skills: Whether you're speaking or writing, a solid foundation in grammar enhances your ability to express your thoughts and ideas clearly and persuasively.

Subject and Predicate: Examples in Literature

Great writers skillfully use subject and predicate to create vivid imagery, convey complex ideas, and evoke emotions in their readers. Let's look at some examples from famous literary works:

• "The old man and the sea struggled." (Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea)
  • Subject: The old man and the sea
  • Predicate: struggled
  • Hemingway uses a simple subject and predicate to emphasize the raw and relentless nature of the old man's battle.
• "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." (Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice)
  • Subject: It (referring to the truth)
  • Predicate: is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.
  • Austen's complex predicate introduces the central theme of the novel with wit and irony.
• "The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep." (Robert Frost, "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening")
  • Subject: I
  • Predicates: have promises to keep, sleep, sleep
  • Frost uses a simple subject with a powerful compound predicate to convey the speaker's sense of duty and the pull between desire and responsibility.
• "The sun rose, painting the sky with hues of orange and gold."
  • Subject: The sun
  • Predicate: rose, painting the sky with hues of orange and gold.
  • This example showcases how the predicate can be expanded to include descriptive details that create a vivid image in the reader's mind.

Mastering Grammar: A Lifelong Journey

Understanding the subject and predicate is a fundamental step in mastering grammar, but it's just the beginning. Grammar is a complex and ever-evolving system, and there's always more to learn. By continuing to study and practice, you can refine your writing skills, improve your communication abilities, and unlock the full potential of language. Embrace the challenge, and enjoy the journey of becoming a more confident and effective communicator.